Dumpster Rental in Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Dumpster Rental Tips

The process to rent a dumpster from a reputable local dumpster company should be simple, even if it's your first time. Below are a few commonly asked questions and answers for those that have never rented a roll off container before.

Why are the called "roll off" dumpsters? What's the difference between a roll off dumpster and a commercial dumpster?

Temporary dumpsters for rent by homeowners and contractors are referred to as "roll off" dumpsters (or roll off containers) because they "roll off" the back of the truck onto your driveway, street, or parking lot. These trash containers typically hold anywhere from 10 yard to 40 cubic yards of debris and may be referred to as "open top" (no lids).

Roll off dumpsters are great for large household trash removal projects. Spring cleaning, foreclosures, estate cleanouts, and moving in or moving out of a home are common examples. Roll off dumpster rental is also the ideal solution for construction debris removal. Remodeling projects, reroofing, and new construction projects often require a temporary waste dumpster on site.

While roll off dumpsters are typically a temporary rental for a week or two, commercial dumpster rental is used by small businesses for trash pick-up on a regular schedule, often once a week. Commercial dumpsters are smaller (2 cubic yards to 10 cubic yards) and have lids on the top. A commercial dumpster is easy to spot behind most restaurants, gas stations, and retail stores.

Help me understand dumpster sizes. What container size should I rent?

Roll off dumpster sizes are described by the number of cubic yards held within the trash container. So, a "10 yard dumpster" will hold 10 cubic yards of debris. Typical dumpster sizes are 10 cubic yards, 20 cubic yards, 30 cubic yards, and 40 cubic yards.

For each dumpster service above, we provide the dumpster sizes in both cubic yards and in feet (length X width X height) to help you better understand the size of trash container you may need for your particular cleanup project. Estimating the amount of debris you have can be tricky. Feel free to contact a local dumpster rental service for their advice on trash container size.

Help me understand dumpster prices. How much does it cost to rent a dumpster?

Dumpster rental is very convenient for large trash removal projects, but renting a dumpster is not cheap. It's expensive for a dumpster service to deliver a dumpster, pick it up, and dispose of the debris at a landfill or trash recycling center. Landfill fees can be very high depending on your state. The costs for gas, truck and equipment maintenance, insurance, wages, and a small profit must also be covered by the rental.

Most local dumpster services do not list their prices on the Hometown Dumpster Rental website. The reason is that dumpster rental prices often depend on several factors. Dumpster size, type of debris, and exact location can all affect the price you pay to rent a dumpster.

Call a Grand Rapids dumpster company and describe your clean-up project to get a price quote. Most companies quote one flat rate for delivery, pickup, and disposal, though some add delivery charges in separately. The rental rate is often for a standard period of time (ie. up to 7 days) and includes a certain amount of weight (i.e. up to 3 tons).

When comparing dumpster rental quotes between two companies, be sure to:

• Compare apples to apples (or 20 yard dumpsters to other 20 yard dumpsters - larger containers cost more to rent)
• Ask how much time is included in the price and what it will cost if you need the container for a longer period
• Ask how much weight is included in the price and how much it will cost if dumpster is "over weight"
• Ask if any additional fees that may be applied for any reason

Extra charges may apply if you need the roll off dumpster for longer than a provider's standard rental period. This is typically a per day fee (ie $5 or $10 per day), but some providers will negotiate with you up front if you need it for slightly longer than their standard period.

Extra charges may also apply if your dumpster is heavier than the included weight. Each dumpster is weighed before it is dumped and the dumpster service pays the landfill or transfer station based on the weight of the debris. If you're debris is heavier than the allotted weight included in your rental agreement, then a "per ton overage" fee will likely apply (i.e. $30 - $100 per ton over, depending on the landfill fees in your area).

Pay particular attention to the amount of weight included in your price if you are disposing of heavy construction debris like bricks, cement, roofing shingles, or demolition debris. If you're cleaning out your home of miscellaneous household debris, you will typically not have to worry about "over weight" fees because the debris is lighter.